Copyright Newsweek
A young dog was found abandoned near a busy stretch of highway with a heartbreaking note written on a scrap of cardboard. In a video posted to the Associated Humane Societies Newark TikTok channel, @Ahsnewark, viewers were introduced to Brownie the dog, who is "barely a year old but has already been shown some of the worst of what people can do." Olivia Gonzalez, social media manager for AHS, told Newsweek: "Brownie was initially brought to the Associated Humane Societies Newark, New Jersey Animal Shelter as an abandoned dog tied to a fence near a very busy intersection." Brownie was left with a piece of cardboard, on which her previous owner had written a note explaining the circumstances that had led to her abandonment. "Owner wasn’t taking care of her and I can’t afford to pay to surrender," the note read. "Please love her and find her a forever home." In 2024, 60 percent of animals entering shelters did so as strays, according to the ASPCA. In the case of Brownie, personal finances appear to have played a role in the decision to abandon her. That is not uncommon, according to Gonzalez. "Through the tough economic times the nation is going through, we have seen an increase in stray, surrendered and abandoned animals," Gonzalez said. "Families everywhere are struggling to provide food, veterinary care and even housing for their pets." Citing AHS as an example, Gonzalez said that the shelter currently has a waitlist for owner surrendered animals that goes "well into February of 2026," with over 80 dogs currently waiting for placement. "Though it is unlawful to abandon a domestic pet, Brownie's family likely acted out of desperation," Gonzalez added. Abandonments like Brownie’s have become increasingly commonplace. In the past year, Gonzalez said she can recall cases where dogs have been left tied up outside parks, outside churches and even outside the shelter overnight. "Even domestic cats have been turned out on the street without a way to care for themselves," Gonzalez added. "Again, this all likely goes back to the financial constraints put on families, due to price increases across the board, which also goes hand in hand with an overwhelming lack of accessibility to pet-friendly housing, especially in the case of discriminated breeds such as pit bulls like Brownie." When Brownie first arrived at the shelter, there were also concerns over how she would cope with living in a kennel. "Her energy level doesn't lend kindly to living 23 of the 24 hours in a day confined to a kennel, and while our dedicated staff and amazing volunteer force do everything they can to provide enrichment to shelter pets, it is no doubt a very stressful environment for them," Gonzalez said. The video AHS posted to TikTok showcasing Brownie’s story got a big reaction. "Brownie needs a forever hero! She’s super adorable," one user wrote alongside the TikTok clip. "She is just the cutest! I hope she finds a home soon," another posted. "She deserves all the love and happiness in the world," a third commented alongside a teary-eyed emoji. The clip ultimately had the desired effect. "Thanks to that video that was shared far and wide on social media, Brownie's stay at the shelter was short and sweet," Gonzalez said. "Unfortunately, this cannot be said for Randy." He is the longest resident at AHS, having clocked up over 400 days in their care. Gonzalez shared Randy’s picture and a little glimpse of his story to highlight the fact that, while dogs like Brownie have gotten their happy ending, there are countless more waiting, and hoping, to get theirs.
